Curtain fixture



Aug. 6, 1929. G, M KENNEY 1,723,975

CURTAIN FIXTURE Filed une 21, 1928 @y ,H11/orfani Patented Aug. 6, 1929.

UNITED STATES GEORG-E M. KENNEY, OF CRANSTON, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO KENNEY MANIL FACTURING COMPANY, OF CRANSTON, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

CURTAIN Application filed June 21,

The curtain rod forming the subject matter of my present invention while of the formed sheet metal type, represents a new structural type adapted for a very Cons1derable range of drapery uses.

rThe standard Cnshaped rod while having many good points which justified its popularity had some obvious defects and various limitations in use.

My new type ofrod is capable of use 1n both single and telescopic form, in straight or curved end equipment, in inserted or suspending relation to the drapery, and while serving all the uses of the ordinary curtain r or portire rod may be used as a traverse equipment in which it is combined with -my carriage as will appear in fthe following specification and in the drawings. Inthe drawings I have illustrated characteristic embodiments as follows:

In Fig. l I have illustrated a typical 'form of rod.

Fig. 2 a plan view of the same used as a sash or portiere rod.

Fig. 3 a plan view of an installation as a curved end rod.

l? ig. 4L- a view of the same in transverse equipment.

F ig. 5 an enlarged sectional. view through the rod and carriage shown in Fig. 4, and

Figs. 6 and 7 are similar sections illustrating modifications in carriage type,

Referring rst to Fig. l it will be noted that the structure of the rod is essentially different from the ordinary type of sheet metal rod which is generally C-shaped in cross section, giving a flat external face with rounded top and bottom edges and an open back. This open back is only partly concealed by the drapery when in place and not concealed at all if the draperies are down,` as is frequently the case in summer weather. rllhe edges oit' these C-shaped rods are furthermore apt to catch in the heading of the curtains when the curtains are being run on or adjusted and if these unprotected edges are dented or marred in handling, they are apt to cut threads or ravel material or otherwise give trouble. Furthermore, this open back necessarily represents a factor of wealt- FIXTURE.

1928. Serial No. 287,320.

ness in the rod as downward or twisting strains find no support on that side and at points of attachment, as for example, where a bracket or hook is used there is a very weak basis inthe rod for satisfactory assembly or mounting.

It will be noted that my rod by reason of its structure possessses a very considerable amount of strength. lVhile its exact shape may be varied it preferably consists of a rounded top portion 1l with depending lateral portions 12 and an upwardly and inwardly turned lower edge 13 leaving the free edge as a rail or flange 1t. The mechanical. possibilities of this flange will be discussed later.

Before dealing with the mechanical possibilities of this simple structure I would point out its aesthetic potentialities because in this art the drapery rod inevitably be comes an addition to or detraction from the esthetic effect of the room. The inverted U-shape of the rod affords a pleasing and original design and by positioning the curved closed edge 1l uppermost it gathers no internal dust or lint.

It is to be noted, however, that inasmuch as the curtain rod is usually observed from below, it would be supposed that an open lower edge would be unsightly. In this regard myrod and upwardly turned portion 13 becomes the saving factor. It will be observed, as in F ig. 1, that the upturned por tion of the bend 13 is so proportioned to the width ot' the opening X between these flanges that except as viewed from immediately below, which would represent a most unusual position of the observer, the inner face of the upturned portion 13 which is the same as the outer face of the rod material, appears to ordinary observation to close the gap X so that hollowness ot the rod is not at all apparent.

Turning now from the matter of appearance to the matter of mechanical utility, it will be seen that this rod structure combines to form rods of the adjusting or sliding type. In such the inwardly and upturned bottom flanges play an important mechanical part as they afford a very complete mechanical interlock along parallel edges and in opposition to the bow shaped part 11. Such an interengagement not only gives very great vertical rigidity but is capable of handling very considerable lateral or torsional strains so that rods made of comparatively thin stock show much greater strength than rods of other types and of thicker stock.

VThese inwardly and upwardly turned flanges l3 however have even a further and more remarkable utility because they make possible the use of the rod in a traversing` equipment. In such equipments the desirability of concealed traversing cords is very great. Such concealed structures have always been very expensive to make and only available in high priced equipment when used. on jobs laid out and installed by professional interior decorators.

Referring to Fig. 5 it will be seen that this inwardly upturned pair of flanges which I have vpreviously described as contributing to the aesthetic effect of vthe rod and to its mechanical strength affords a pair of spaced flanges or ltracks l4 on which traversing trucks or rollers can be supported and guided so that as illustrated in Fig. 5 a. drapery snspending hook 4l vcan be hung from the axle 2 of the rollers 3 which bear on the edges l'l. It will be noted that in the telescopic rod construction as shown in Fig. 5, the inner rod member la is made from stock of slightly narrower width than the outer rod member lb so that the edges l'l of both rod members are of uniform height, thus providing a smooth and even-track on which the traverse rolls or slides.

It will be further noted that the pull cord or cords C may be runthrough the rod or rods above V`the axle 2 so as to be concealed and guidedlthrough the Irod without danger of fouling or slacking or escaping through Y the opening X on the lower side of the rod.

The tracks or rollers may be variously shaped to take advantage of the rod construction. In Fig. 6 I have shown a modified form using double flanged rollers 5 so that each roller straddles the rail or track formed by the edge 14. In Fig. 7 I have shown a very simple and inexpensive type of snpport. In this the member 4l may be a smooth hard button shaped member 6 which will slide on the tracks or rails formed by the edges l As indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, the rod may be installed as a sash or portier-e rod or as a bent end or projecting window frame rod. In either case it may be supported on almost any conventional type of bracket. In the form shown I have illustrated a simple hook.

As heretofore suggested the design and finish of such rods maybe widely varied and the rods sold as standard stock rods or as extension rods or as traverse rods with or without contained rollers, pulleys, slides or other traverse elements. This makes it nnnecessary for the dealer to carry in stock a large number of both curtain and traverse rods. Instead he can carry a few standard rods and by selling the traverse parts as a unit or set the curtain rod can be readily adapted for traverse work. It is to be noted that as a traverse rod on account of the thinness of the spaced rails, the edge contact offers so little friction that no lubrication is necessary. This is important as the necessity of lubrication in most of such devices has created a danger too often realized on spotted or soiled curtains.

lVhile my invention has that versatility and adaptability which makes it capable of a great variety of uses, I am not to be understood as limited to any one of them, but desire to protect my concept in its fundamental simplicity.

That I therefore claim` and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A curtain or drapery rod consisting of a length of sheet metal formed to present a pair of substantially parallel spaced front and rear walls and an arched top 'all connecting said front and rear walls, the lower edges of said front and rear walls being bent inwardly and upwardly as flanges which tend to strengthen and brace said front and rear walls and to conceal the bottom opening of the rod when viewed from the normal angle of vision.

2. A curtain or drapery rod consisting of a length of sheet metal formed to present a. pair of substantially parallel spaced front and rear walls merging into a connecting top wall, the lower edges of said front and rear walls being bent inwardly and upwardly in spaced parallel relation to each other and to the front and rear walls as flanges which tend to strengthen and brace said front and rear walls and to conceal the bottom opening of the rod when viewed from the normal angle of vision.

3. A curtain or drapery rod consisting of duplicate lengths of sheet metal formed to telescope within each other and each present a pair of substantially parallel spaced front and rear walls and an arched top wall connecting the upper edges of said front and rear walls, the lower edges of said front and rear walls being bent inwardly and upwardly as flanges which tend to strengthen and brace said front and rear walls and to conceal the bottom. opening of the rod when viewed from the normal. angle of vision, and the flanges of one rod section closely engaging those of the complement-ary rod section to increase the strength and rigidity of the rod.

4. A curtain or drapery rod consisting of duplicate lengths of sheet metal formed to telescope within each other and each present a pair of substantially parallel spaced front and rear Walls merging into a Connecting top Wall, the lower edges of said front and rear Walls being bent inwardly and upwardly in spaced parallel. relation to each other and to the front and rear Walls as flanges which tend to strengthen and brace said front and rear Walls and to conceal the bottom opening of the rod When Viewed from the normal angle of vision, and the flanges of one roel section closely engaging those of the 10 complementary rod section to increase the strength and rigidity of the roel.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

GEORGE M. KENNEY. 

